WIRE

⭐This National Volunteer Week, WIRE celebrates the incredible women and gender diverse people who support our community to navigate imperfect systems and circumstances.

Our volunteers have played a critical role in supporting individuals and communities for over 40 years. Whether it’s answering calls in the phone room, working alongside community members and leaders to build capacity at the grassroots level, or offering professional knowledge in areas like financial coaching, career coaching and family law — our volunteers’ contribution and generosity make WIRE’s work possible.

We are very grateful for every volunteer who has contributed to sparking real change for women and gender diverse people. Your commitment expands what we can offer and strengthens our service.

Interested in becoming a volunteer at WIRE? Learn more: Volunteer | WIRE

Thank you everyone for joining today's panel discussion 'Misidentification: The Cost of Getting It Wrong'.

The informative discussion was a great way to mark the start of , with panelists bringing together their valued knowledge, insights and expertise around this important issue.

The panel highlighted the important of family violence prevention work, service response that helps victim/survivors accessing legal advice early, comprehensive training for law, police, and specialist workers to identify risk for collusion and system abuse, and most importantly responding to recovery from harms.

We hope participants were left feeling more informed around the topic of misidentification, and continue exploring the ways we can advocate for systemic change for those groups who are marginalised and over represented.

Thank you to our panelists:

🔹 Laura Heffes [Law and Advocacy Centre for Women Ltd],
🔹 Kate Bishop [WIRE],
🔹 Druma D. [Multicultural Women's Alliance against Family Violence]
🔹 Mariam Deng [Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights]

our host Kareena Horsman, and to Women's Health Victoria for letting us use their space.

Join WIRE across law week for a series of event's celebrating "When Law Meets Life" ⚖

Our first event is a panel discussion "Misidentified: The Cost of Getting it Wrong"

🔹About the event: WIRE, together with The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women, the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, and the Multicultural Women’s Alliance Against Family Violence, invite you to take part in an important conversation about misidentification in the context of family violence.

📆When: Monday, May 18th
⏰Time: 11.00am - 12.30pm.
Details: Online via Teams or in-person at Women's Health Victoria
Register: via WIRE Humanitix
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Looking for information about family law and navigating separation? Want to find out how to reach an agreement on children and property?

🔹About the event: To celebrate Victorian Law Week 2026, join WIRE's free information seminar 'From Separation to Settlement'. Family Lawyer and Mediator Elisa Turco, from Hazel Family Law & Mediation, will provide information and examine the pros and cons of dispute resolution options following divorce and separation.

What you'll learn:
🔹What is spousal maintenance
🔹Different forms of separating
🔹Parenting arrangements
🔹Mediation
🔹Court orders and formal agreements

📆When: Tuesday, 19th May
⏰ 12:30pm - 2:00pm (join on your lunch break!)
Details: Online via zoom.
Book: via WIRE Humanitix
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Nichole's Family Law Presents: Changes to Family Violence Laws and Their Impact on Vulnerable Communities

🔹About the event: This webinar explains recent changes to Victoria’s family violence laws and examines how these reforms affect older people, financially vulnerable individuals, people experiencing family violence, and LGBTIQA+ communities. The panel will discuss what the changes mean in practice and where to seek help.

WIRE CEO Jade Blakkarly will be a panelist as part of this webinar!

📆When: Wednesday, 20th May
⏰ 1:00pm - 2:00pm (join on your lunch break!)
Details: Online
Book: www.viclawweek.org.au/program/changes-to-family-violence-laws-and-their-impact-on-vulnerable-communities